Bottom view of above roach - ca. 1900 - Notice how base is made from many rows of tied
deer tail.

Roach with beaded
spreader
early 20th century
Matoska Trading Company
Collection

Roach - possibly late
19th century
Top & Bottom Views
Most of porcupine guard
hair is gone
Matoska Trading Company Collection

The porcupine hair roach is a head ornament worn by men. It is typically constructed of porcupine
guard hair (not quills) and hair from the tail of the white-tail deer. Some roaches from the southern plains are
constructed using black turkey beards. The exact origins of the roach are not known for certain. There is some conjecture
that they were originally worn as part of society regalia and may have originated among the Missouri River tribes.
However, this is not certain. From drawings by Charles Bird King and George Catlin (among others), we do know that roaches
were in common use in the early 19th century and it is likely that they were in use much earlier. The roach worn by
Buffalo Bull can be clearly seen in this drawing by George Catlin in 1832:

Buffalo Bull
Grand Pawnee Warrior
Painted by George Catlin, 1832

By the end of the 19th century, the roach was commonly worn by male dancers. If the
roach ever was symbolic of a society member, it certainly was no longer at that time.

Ledger drawing by Making Medicine - 1876
Note the three Cheyennes wearing roaches
From the book Warrior Artists

Today, the roach is worn by most male dancers. There is no society association today, but some
dancers do wear certain colors for various personal or religious reasons. Most of the time, the colors are chosen to match
the dance clothes.

If you are looking for a roach for your dance clothes, we offer the finest custom roaches made
today. They are made just like the old ones. We even offer hair-base roaches.